Tag / Foo Fighters

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Fifty Years Of Music – 2005

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2005, the year Michael was born, I went to Europe for the first time, I celebrated my 31st birthday, and the White Sox won the World Series.  22 of these songs remain familiar to me today, with just nine of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#77: Ludacris – Get Back
iTunes stats: 36 plays

Featured as the ending theme to Tropic Thunder, the song peaked at #13 in January.

#68: Foo Fighters – Best of You
iTunes stats: 31 plays

Topping the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for four weeks and the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart for seven weeks, it was their highest charting single on the Hot 100, reaching #18.

#46: Green Day – Wake Me Up When September Ends
iTunes stats: 31 plays

Written about the death of frontman Billy Joe Armstrong’s father when he was 10, it went to #6 and remains their final top ten hit.

#43: Nickelback – Photograph
iTunes stats: N/A

The lead single from their fifth studio album, it became the band’s third top ten hit, going to #2.

#39: Green Day – Holiday
iTunes stats: 26 plays

Topping both the Hot Modern Rock Tracks and Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, it peaked at #19 on the Hot 100.

#35: DHT featuring Edmee – Listen to Your Heart
iTunes stats: 21 plays

This cover of the Roxette hit reached #8.

#32: Black Eyed Peas – My Humps
iTunes stats: 26 plays

The 2007 Grammy winner for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, it topped out at #3.

#31: Gwen Stefani featuring Eve – Rich Girl
iTunes stats: 11 plays

Produced by Dr. Dre, it spent more than six months on the Hot 100, going as high as #7.

#23: Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell – Drop It Like It’s Hot
iTunes stats: 27 plays

Featuring on the year-end chart for the second time, it spent three weeks at #1.

#20: Weezer – Beverly Hills
iTunes stats: 18 plays

The band’s most successful single on the Hot 100, it peaked at #10 and was their first charting track since 1994.

#16: The Killers – Mr. Brightside
iTunes stats: 35 plays

First released in 2003, it was re-released in 2004, where it went to #10.

#13: Black Eyed Peas – Don’t Phunk with My Heart
iTunes stats: 26 plays

The 2007 Grammy winner for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, it topped out at #3.

#9: The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes – Don’t Cha
iTunes stats: 26 plays

The track spent three weeks at #2 and remains the group’s highest-charting song.

#7: Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams
iTunes stats: 20 plays

Peaking at #2, it is still the highest-charting sone of the band’s career.

#6: Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx – Gold Digger
iTunes stats: 26 plays

The Grammy winner for Best Rap Solo Performance, it spent ten weeks at #1 in the fall of 2005.

#4: Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone
iTunes stats: 35 plays

The lead single from the American Idol winner’s sophomore effort, it topped out at #2 while spending 20 weeks in the top ten.

#2: Gwen Stefani – Hollaback Girl
iTunes stats: 24 plays

Nominated for the two Grammys, the song spent four weeks atop the Hot 100 in the spring.

 

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Yet Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 19

33 years ago, during my sophomore year of high school, I put together the first of what would eventually become a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD.  Today, we revisit those mix tapes for the fourth time and see how, or if, the soundtrack of my youth still resonates in today’s digital world and how much has changed over the past four years.

I’ve done some crazy things over the years in an attempt to impress a girl that I liked.  One of the earliest was to buy tickets for a concert I really had no interest in attending just because my crush at the time liked the band’s one hit.  I had a couple things working against me: 1) she already had a boyfriend and 2) they were going to an earlier show on the tour and thus she saw the band the week before.  This is the story of I how I ended up at the Metro on the day after my 21st birthday watching Tripping Daisy with a couple hundred of my closest friends.

One of the upsides of a global pandemic and my subsequent move to remote work is that I don’t come across people  and thus no longer have any crushes to try and impress.  Saves me both time and money.

Volume 19 stretches from late summer 1995 and into the fall semester of the first of my two senior years of college.  Again, it mostly features what was considered alternative music, with Coolio interjecting some street flavor for good measure.

Side A

Tripping Daisy – I Got A Girl
iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 12/10/2021

The one hit for Tripping Daisy, who I saw in concert the day after my 21st birthday, managed to make its way into my rotation a mere three times over the last four years.

Foo Fighters – This Is A Call
iTunes stats: 37 plays, most recently on 6/4/2021

Written a few months after the death of Kurt Cobain, the debut for Dave Grohl’s new venture earned eleven additional plays over these past four years.

Pearl Jam – Whipping
iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 11/10/2022

Six new listens for the final appearance of Pearl Jam on these collections, which received plenty of airplay on Q101 despite not being officially released as a single.

Hootie and the Blowfish – Only Wanna Be With You
iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 3/23/2022

Hootie’s ode to, among other things, the Miami Dolphins added seven new listens in the past four years.

Elastica – Stutter
iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 5/20/2022

Originally released in November 1993, it was re-released the following year, made its way to radio in 1995, and doubled its listens over the past four years.

Cranberries – Ridiculous Thoughts
iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 11/19/2019

Four listens for the latest from the Cranberries, though none since the world stopped thanks to COVID.

Green Day – J.A.R.
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 7/9/2022

Green Day’s contribution to the Angus soundtrack picked up a mere four listens over the past four years.

Alanis Morissette – Hand In My Pocket
iTunes stats: 21 plays, most recently on 11/20/2021

Hitting #4 on the Billboard charts, the second release from the juggernaut that was Jagged Little Pill added seven listens in the past four years.

Side B

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iTunes Top 200 Albums Wrap-Up

Last week, we wrapped up our latest look at the top 200 albums that I’ve listened to, according to iTunes, since late 2007.  Now it’s time to take a final look at those 200 albums and the 536 (or so) artists that contributed to them.  The average number of listens was just under 150, with the median number being 113.  There were 13 new entries, and of the returning entries, there was an average increase of just a tad over 58 listens per album.

Most Represented Band

The Beatles – 15
Garbage – 8
George Carlin – 7
Patton Oswalt – 6
Foo Fighters – 4
Tegan and Sara – 4
Garfunkel and Oates – 4
AC/DC – 4
R.E.M. – 4
Pearl Jam – 4

Largest Play Increase

400 – George Carlin – Complaints and Grievances
231 – George Carlin – It’s Bad For Ya
194 – Garbage – One Mile High… Live
182 – Patton Oswalt – Werewolves and Lollipops
174 – Various Artists – Television’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 (70’s & 80’s)

Smallest Play Increase

2 – 2008 Highlights – WSCR 670 The Score
9 – Queen – Queen: Greatest Hits I & II
9 – Garbage – Absolute Garbage
11 – The Outfield – Play Deep
11 – P.O.D. – Satellite

Largest Percent Increase

Infinite – Patton Oswalt – Annihilation
404.55% – George Carlin – Jammin’ In New York
186.11% – Florence + The Machine – Between Two Lungs
175.56% – Patton Oswalt – My Weakness is Strong
170% – Various Artists – The Osbourne Family Album

Smallest Percent Increase

1.83% – 2008 Highlights – WSCR 670 The Score
7.20% – Garbage – Absolute Garbage
7.26% – Queen – Queen: Greatest Hits I & II
8.43% – Various Artists – Pirates of the Caribbean (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)
10.78% – P.O.D. – Satellite

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Book 28 (of 52) – The Storyteller

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music – Dave Grohl

When the world shut down in March of 2020 due to the corona virus, Dave Grohl put down his guitar and picked up a pen.  His stories cover the gamut of his life, from his childhood in Virginia, to his fateful trip to Chicago where a concert at the Cubby Bear introduced him to the world of punk rock, from joining local-punk legends Scream right out of high school to hooking up with an up-and-coming Nirvana after Scream imploded to creating the Foo Fighters after the death of Kurt Cobain, from going on epic concert tours to planning tour dates around his children’s school dances.

Dave Grohl has been a favorite for years, from his time with Nirvana through his years as the leader of the Foo Fighters.  The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music does a great job of explaining where his love of music came from and how he has used that to build a pretty great and surreal life for himself and his family.  If you are looking for a tell-all book about the inner demons of Kurt Cobain or a listing of all the celebrities he slept with, this is not the book for you.  Instead, it is a journey through life with music, and the love of music, as its throughline.  Dave Grohl is considered to be one of the nicest people in rock and roll and, reading his stories, you can see why.

 

 

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Top 200 Albums: #11 – 20

itunes_imageWe last counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library four years ago. Since that time, the world has literally changed, and my commute has decreased from 1+ hours each way to 25 steps. So, despite the decrease in potential listening time, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through the morning of January 1, 2022.

It is our penultimate look at the albums I have listened to the most over the last 15 years. including three compilations, two comedy albums, two greatest hits collections, and a bootleg live performance.

#20: AC/DC – The Razors Edge
iTunes stats: 283 plays
Previous Ranking: 12

An eight-spot drop in the rankings, most likely thanks to a pandemic-shortened 2020 baseball season without crowds and the subsequent lack of playing my White Sox playlists.

#19: Various Artists – TV’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 7: Cable Ready
iTunes stats: 289 plays
Previous Ranking: 16

A 98-play increase for this collection of TV theme songs from shows like Mad About You, Saved By The Bell, and Blossom, among others.

#17: The Monkees – The Monkees Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 292 plays
Previous Ranking: 18

19 different tracks from the made-for-TV band, which is now down to just Mickey Dolenz following Michael Nesmith’s December death, saw a nearly 65% increase in listens over the past four years.

#17: Patton Oswalt– Feelin’ Kinda Patton
iTunes stats: 292 plays
Previous Ranking: 20

The first comedy album from Patton Oswalt sees an impressive 73% increase, which would be significantly higher if I were to ever sync my old iPhone 4s again.

#16: Elvis Presley – Elv1s 30 #1 Hits
iTunes stats: 312 plays
Previous Ranking: 15

This greatest hits package from the King of Rock & Roll uses 14 tracks to add an additional 119 listens over the past four years.

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Top 200 Albums: #61 – 69

We last counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library four years ago. Since that time, the world has literally changed, and my commute has decreased from 1+ hours each way to 25 steps. So, despite the decrease in potential listening time, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through the morning of January 1, 2022.

Today, we continue our countdown with the next batch of ten albums that I have listened to the most over the last 15 years with three compilations, two comedy albums, and a heavy dose of 90s alternative favorites.

#69: Various Artists – The TransFormers: The Movie
iTunes stats: 149 plays
Previous Ranking: 60

A 46% increase in plays for the six tunes, from the likes of Stan Bush and Weird Al Yankovic, from this soundtrack from the animated TransFormers film from the mid-80s.

#69: George Carlin – Life is Worth Losing
iTunes stats: 149 plays
Previous Ranking: 85

The comedian’s 18th album, and 13th HBO special, added 70 new listens while rising 16 spots in the rankings.

#68: Various Artists – ’90s Style
iTunes stats: 155 plays
Previous Ranking: 64

A 56% increase in plays over the past four years for the nine tracks from exciting 90s artists, like Jill Sobule, Green Jelly, and MC Hammer, from this compilation album.

#67: Various Artists – Millennium Hip-Hop Party Vol. 2
iTunes stats: 158 plays
Previous Ranking: 66

This turn-of-the-century compilation added 60 new listens to seven tracks, from artists like Coolio, Naughty By Nature, and Paperboy.

#65: Poison – Swallow This Live
iTunes stats: 160 plays
Previous Ranking: 58

A 52% increase for the eight tracks from this double album, the first CD I ever owned after receiving it for Christmas in 1991.

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Top 200 Albums: #81 – 88

We last counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library four years ago. Since that time, the world has literally changed, and my commute has decreased from 1+ hours each way to 25 steps. So, despite the decrease in potential listening time, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through the morning of January 1, 2022.

The countdown marches on today with the next batch of ten albums that I have listened to the most over the last 15 years, breaking the triple digit total play plateau with three compilations, and music from the 60s, 80s, 90s, and beyond.

#88: Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
iTunes stats: 123 plays
Previous Ranking: 79

A 52% increase in plays for the five of the eleven tracks from this 1994 album, the band’s second.

#88: The Beatles – Abbey Road
iTunes stats: 123 plays
Previous Ranking: 109

Released in 1969, the band’s eleventh studio album, the last completed prior to their breakup, saw an increase of 58 listens to jump 21 spots in the rankings.

#88: Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York
iTunes stats: 123 plays
Previous Ranking: 101

A 73% increase in plays over the past four years for seven of the songs from the group’s 1993 MTV Unplugged performance, their first album released following the death of Kurt Cobain.

#87: Patton Oswalt – My Weakness is Strong
iTunes stats: 124 plays
Previous Ranking: 179

A very impressive 92 spot jump for the funnyman’s third comedy album, thanks to an additional 79 plays over the past four years.

#86: Various Artists – The First 1000 Years – Rock
iTunes stats: 126 plays
Previous Ranking: 77

Seven songs, from alternative artists like The Breeders, Everclear, and Jane’s Addiction, added 43 new listens for this MTV sponsored compilation.

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Top 200 Albums: #131 – 139

We last counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library four years ago. Since that time, the world has literally changed, and my commute has decreased from 1+ hours each way to 25 steps. So, despite the decrease in potential listening time, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through the morning of January 1, 2022.

We continue today with the next batch of ten albums that I have listened to the most over the last 15 years, including one comedy album, one compilation, and an even one half of the albums coming from the 90s.

#139: Foo Fighters – Foo Fighters
iTunes stats: 91 plays
Previous Ranking: 129

Recovering from the death of Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl recorded this debut, which increased its plays by a scant 56.9%, alone and formed the band afterwards.

#139: Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison
iTunes stats: 91 plays
Previous Ranking: 120

The debut album from the former members of New Edition added 30 new listens to two of the ten songs from the album.

#136: The Beatles – Let It Be
iTunes stats: 92 plays
Previous Ranking: 129

Four of the twelve tracks from this remastered version of the Fab Four’s twelfth and final studio album earn a relatively small 58% increase over the past 4 years.

#136: Various Artists – TV Themes of the 80’s
iTunes stats: 92 plays
Previous Ranking: 161

Five different theme songs, from popular TV shows like WKRP in Cincinnati, Love Boat, and the Dukes of Hazzard, added 43 new plays to jump up 25 spots.

#136: Liz Phair – Whitechocolatespaceegg
iTunes stats: 92 plays
Previous Ranking: 127

Ten different songs make up this total, an increase of 56% from four years ago, for this third studio album by the one-time indie darling.

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iTunes Top 200 Artists: #5

6 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 artists in my iTunes library.  Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact and expanded the count down to the Top 200..  It’s been 3 years, so I figured it was time to take yet another look at my Top 200 artists, based on the number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2021.

Today, we break in to the top five and surpass four digits in the number of plays for the first time.  Born out of the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994, our next entry is the Dave Grohl solo project turned band known as Foo Fighters.

 

#5: Foo Fighters
iTunes stats: 1026 plays
Previous ranking: #3

Adding an additional 2 songs, up to 48 songs, helped the Foo Fighters raise their total by 54%, which caused them to drop 2 spots on the charts.  Their most popular song, a live version of My Hero from a concert in London’s Hyde Park in 2006, clocks in with 60 listens, while 6 different tracks bring up the rear with a single play.

I’ve managed to see the band in concert twice: first in 2005 and again in 2015.  The first show was an indoor affair at the Allstate Arena, where they were touring with Weezer, who got things started by mixing a cover of Big Me into their set.  Once the Foo Fighters came out, they mixed in old hits with selections from their new album for a fun, 16-song set.  They also managed to break down some of their hits with elongated guitar solos that gave the audience an opportunity to thrash themselves as much as humanly possible.

10 years later, I saw them for the second time at Wrigley Field.  Having broken his leg over two months earlier,  Dave Grohl spent the show sitting in an electric throne that could bring him out in to the crowd thanks to an extended stage.  The band wasted no time in getting things started, blowing out Everlong and Monkey Wrench straight out of the gate.  2 and a half hours and 21 songs later, they closed down the joint with a rousing rendition of Best Of You.  In between, they put on a hell of a show, featuring their own hits along with some snippets of hits from Van Halen, Yes, and Alice Cooper.

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iTunes Top 200 Artists: #7

6 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 artists in my iTunes library.  Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact and expanded the count down to the Top 200..  It’s been 3 years, so I figured it was time to take yet another look at my Top 200 artists, based on the number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2021.

Twin sisters who bonded in high school over a love of music following the discovery of their step-dad’s guitar, we continue today with at #7 with Sara Quin and Tegan Quin, known professionally as the band Tegan & Sara.

#7: Tegan and Sara
iTunes stats: 657 plays
Previous ranking: #7

Tegan and Sara entered my consciousness in the early 2000s, when I Hear Noises started to get some airplay on WXRT.  Since then, I’ve seen them in concert, read their book. and listened to their music, with 84 songs from 10 different albums in my collection.  They’ve stayed even on the charts, thanks to a mere 50% increase in listens over the past four years.  

I saw them in concert in October of 2005, at the end of what was a very busy week.  Prior to the show, I settled in at Rock Bottom in River North to watch the end of Game 3 of the ALDS as the White Sox finished off their sweep of the Red Sox.  After the game, a group of us hopped on the Red Line and headed north to Wrigleyville to check out Tegan and Sara at the Metro.  To be honest, I don’t remember much about the show at all.  The album they were touring in support of, So Jealous, is one of my favorites and I’m sure I enjoyed the performance.  But, my favorite baseball team was headed for the ALCS, I’d just been to two playoff games, and the Weezer and Foo Fighters show was earlier that week.  It’s all sort of jumbled together at this point.